Method and apparatus for extinguishing fires



Nov. 30 1926.

C. R. MURRAY METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES Filed Nov.

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' Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES' PATENT or-Flea.

CHARLES R. MURRAY, OI SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES.

Application filed November 9, 1922. Serial No. 599,752.

This invention relates to a methodof and apparatus for'extingushing fires, and more particularly fires occurring in large oil tanks.

So far as I am aware, it has not heretofore been proposed to use water in fighting firesoccurring in large storage tanks where oil is present. The usual method of extingui'shing such fires is to employ a chemical In which is lighter than oil, so that by floating it on the surface the flames are smothered out. The apparatus required for this purpose is extremely ex nsive, and the difliculty of separating t e chemical from the oil after the fire is extinguished oflers another objection.

The object of the present invention is to extinguish fires, and particularly oil tank fires, in an economical and rapid manner and without the use of chemicals which are liable to become so mixed with the'oil as to makeit difficult to separate and salvage'the oil. This object I accomplish by the use of a sheet or curtain of water to completely surround the fire and cut ofi the supply of oxygen thereto, and simultaneously directing a number of jets of water directly on to the source of the fire. f

One form of apparatus suitable for practicing my invention is shown in the accompanymg drawing, wherein- Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a tank equipped with apparatus embodying my in vention. I

Fig. 2 shows a side/elevation, partly in section, of the'tank and apparatus shown in Fig. 1. I

Fig. 3 shows a sectional view of one 01 the nozzles or distributors employed in connection with the apparatus.

In carrying out my invention I make use of a nozzle or distributor, such as shown in Fig. 3, which comprises a casing 10 screwthreaded at one end for coupling on to a supply pipe 11. Thegputlet end of the nozzle is tapered, as shown at 12, and inside the nozzle or -casing is a spider 13 on to which is screw-threaded a hollow stem 14 carrying at its outer end a distributing disk 15. This $0 .disk causes the water to be thrown out lateraly a disk-like or conical sheet or stream, as indicated by the arrows 16.

the disk is perforated at its center to perm t 1 water from the hollow stem to pass out m I jets, as shown by the arrows 17. 1

In practice, where it 18 desired to protect a large storage tank a number of these nozzles are arranged at the top of a tank or enclosure 18 and connected withsupply mains 19. The lateral spread or stream from the nozzles is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1. Sufiicient of these nozzles are used so that the combined lateral spread or streams will completely fill the cross sectional area of the tank or enclosure.

When a fire occurs all the nozzles are turned on simultaneously, either by hand or by any suitable automatic mechanism. The streams from the nozzles completely seal off the lower portion of the tank, so that air cannot gain entrance to.) the source of the fire. At the same time, the downwardly .directed 'jets from the tip of the distributing disks will act directly upon the fire and assist in extinguishing the same. Furthermore, the lateral streams striking the sides of the tank will assist in cooling the same and prevent rupturing of the tank through ex anslon.

t will be understood that various changes in the arrangement and construction of the several parts herein shown and described may be employed without departing from the spirit of my invention as disclosed in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and dc ire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A method of 'xtinguishing fires in tanks and enclosures containing inflammable liquids, which consists of projecting from different points in the confines of the enclosure horizontally directed, discoidal sheets of liquid, under high pressure and sufiiciently widespread and closely spaced to cover without interruption the entire crosssectional area of the enclosure above the surface of the inflammableliquid and below the top of the enclosure, whereby the heat of the flame will be cutoff from the surface of the burning liquid and further generation 'of combustible vapors retarded. 2. The method of "extinguishing fires, in tanks and enclosures containing inflammable li uids, which consists in rejecting from and periphery of the tank; a plurality of high velocity, discoidal sheets 0 water, over and above ;-the surface of the inflammable liquid and below the top' of the, enclosure, and causing the water curtains to strike each other and the sides of the enclosure 50 ifierent points between t e center as to produce a relatively thick, horizontal zone of Water and mist, capable of cooling the surface of the burning liquid and cutting off the transmission of heat thereto by the upper portion of the flame, so as to retard generation of combustible vapors.

3. An apparatus for extinguishing fires in tanks and similar enclosurescontaining inflammables, comprising a plurality of vertically disposed nozzles spaced laterally from each other between the center and periphery of the tank, and arranged above the surface of the inflammable substance, and a distributing disc disposed in front of-each nozzle to spread the liquid in horizontal, discoidal sheets, and means for supplying liquid to said nozzles under relatively high pressure, so that horizontally directed, discoidal sheets of liquid may be projected Without interruption throughout the entire 2 cross-sectional area of the tank.

CHARLES RIMURRAY; 

